as in muttering
speech that is not clear enough to be understood
says he talks in his sleep, but really it's just snorts and grunting
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in mumbling
to speak softly and unclearly
was so absorbed with the video game that when asked what he wanted for dinner, he just grunted
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grunting
Randall Colburn, EW.com, 8 Mar. 2025
The elephant is now decidedly less friendly, and is doing far more than twitching and grunting.
—Stephen Maher, TIME, 15 Feb. 2025
Yesterday Re complaints about her grunting--go make those complaints on the men's side of the arena, please, and stop policing women's behavior.
—Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 25 Jan. 2025
Chase and Danni go to the master to hook up, and we’re subjected to some late-night sounds of Chase grunting.
—Emma Soren, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2025
Paired alongside Shakespeare’s lines about grunting and sweating under a weary life, even the non-playable background extras seem imbued with a soul.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2025
The team recorded dozens of the native birds gathering around to perform their courtship—showing off their bright feathers, smooth moves and grunting calls.
—Alexa Robles-Gil, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Jan. 2025
Between Home Improvement and Last Man Standing, Allen has spent nearly two decades on network TV playing a blue-collar, no-nonsense dad who loves his kids despite all his grumbling (and grunting).
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 6 Jan. 2025
Even outside that timeframe, grunting at a deer that’s traveling away from your position, or not close enough for a shot, can work, too.
—Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 1 Jan. 2025
Verb
Tim Allen's grunting tool man led one of the '90s most popular sitcoms.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 8 Mar. 2025
The elephant is now decidedly less friendly, and is doing far more than twitching and grunting.
—Stephen Maher, TIME, 15 Feb. 2025
Yesterday Re complaints about her grunting--go make those complaints on the men's side of the arena, please, and stop policing women's behavior.
—Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 25 Jan. 2025
Chase and Danni go to the master to hook up, and we’re subjected to some late-night sounds of Chase grunting.
—Emma Soren, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2025
Paired alongside Shakespeare’s lines about grunting and sweating under a weary life, even the non-playable background extras seem imbued with a soul.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2025
The team recorded dozens of the native birds gathering around to perform their courtship—showing off their bright feathers, smooth moves and grunting calls.
—Alexa Robles-Gil, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Jan. 2025
Between Home Improvement and Last Man Standing, Allen has spent nearly two decades on network TV playing a blue-collar, no-nonsense dad who loves his kids despite all his grumbling (and grunting).
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 6 Jan. 2025
Even outside that timeframe, grunting at a deer that’s traveling away from your position, or not close enough for a shot, can work, too.
—Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 1 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grunting
Noun
-
Refinements since then pushed the output to 300 hp and 365 lb-ft, offering a mild edge over the outgoing engine, but a new six-speed automatic replacing the old four-speed one meant the SUV could make better use of the grunt on hand.—
Will Sabel Courtney,
Robb Report,
5 June 2025
-
That means a 500-W motor with similar incline-busting grunt and top speed.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
On a sunlit slope above the Aegean, the ruins of an old Greek estate whisper stories of power, legacy, and familial pride.—
Francois Botha,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
-
What was once spoken only in whispers, if at all, by our mothers and grandmothers, is now trending on TikTok.—
Time,
Time,
26 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grunting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grunting. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
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